Colorado
Kansas State
Spikers Fall At K-State In Four
October 11, 2002 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Despite winning the third game with authority 30-17, the University of Colorado volleyball team (9-8, 3-4 Big 12) didn't do so well in the other three games as the Kansas State Wildcats (9-6, 5-2 Big 12) gave them a 23-30, 24-30, 30-17, 23-30 Saturday night at the Ahearn Fieldhouse.
The Buffs started the match slowly, putting themselves in a 10 point hole early in the first game. With the game pretty much out of reach at 28-19, the Buffs were able to put together a small rally and get to the 23-point mark before falling in the first stanza.
"It's been sort of a hectic trip," CU head coach Pi'i Aiu said. "We had some things go wrong with the hotel because it was (Kansas State's) homecoming football game, so I'm not surprised we started slow. We never gave up and had some flashes of brilliance, but at some point, that's not going to be enough. We're going to have to play full matches to win in the Big 12, especially on the road and especially at K-State, where the atmosphere they've created gives them a huge home-court advantage."
CU and K-State played Game 2 close until the end. K-State held just a 24-22 lead before putting together a 6-2 rally to win go into the break with a 30-24 win and a 2-0 lead in the match. CU fought tough and led the entire third game, putting up an impressive 30-17 win in the game.
After playing the libero position and recording 12 digs in the first two games, freshman Nicole Carr was inserted in the front row and responded with nine kills and a .600 hitting percentage in the game. Carr finished with 11 kills and 20 digs.
"I felt we just needed to switch it up a little out there," "Right now we need a few players to step up and take charge on the court. I think we have several players capable of doing that, but we all just need to figure out who it will be."
The Wildcats came back and after a slow start in Game 4, they took charge of the match and built up a 17-12 lead. Aiu took his second time out with K-State leading 23-16, and the Buffs pulled to within 23-18 before two Buff errors gave K-State a 25-18 lead, and they would take the final game 30-23.
Statistically, the Buffs were led by Monique Gerlach, who recorded a match-high 17 kills with an impressive .500 hitting percentage. Maragda Santillana looked impressive through out the match and finished with 11 kills and two blocks while seniors Meghan Barkman (12 kills, three blocks) and Kim Taskey (eight kills, 22 digs) also did their part.
Senior Elizabeth Gower barely missed the ninth triple-double of her career with nine kills, 11 digs and 22 assists in the match. Sophomore Allison Barnes also got in on the setting action as the Buffs ran a two-setter offense for much of the match, and finished with 41 assists, 11 digs and two aces.
The Buffs will have to rebound quickly from the loss, as they play host to a tough Texas squad Wednesday at the Coors Events Center in a 7 p.m. first serve. CU has won three of the last four in the series with the Longhorns but own just a 5-11 all-time record with them.
